Australia: Packing
I take pride in my packing abilities. I almost always have at least one suitcase packed and ready in case I need to go somewhere at a moment’s notice. I’ve lived out of carry-on suitcases for weeks at a time. Traveling internationally has presented me with a new challenge. It’s very different when you’re traveling for more than a month…to a remote town… in a different country… halfway across the world. I needed a strategy.
It’s funny, because I’m writing this blog while in Australia. I can actually tell you if my packing strategy was successful or not. I’ll give you a hint - I have some regrets, but I think you and I will learn from them. I also want to mention that I’m not an actual influencer, so nothing I write is an ad or a sponsored post. I use every single item I’ve listed and I’m including brand names where it’s relevant. First, I’ll walk you through the suitcases/carry-on items I’m bringing with me.
I have a medium Away suitcase. I own multiple of their suitcases, but the “medium flex” is the only large (checked size) suitcase I own. I’ve been a fan of the company since 2017, and their suitcases are durable, have four wheels, and a great lifetime warranty. I pair their suitcases with the Away “insider packing cubes.” I have two sets, bringing my total to 8 individual cubes. For this trip, I brought 6 cubes and they were filled to the max. I used them, because I like how they compress my clothes and keep things organized. There are 5 in the medium suitcase and 1 in my backpack. In the end, my suitcase weighed 46lbs (which came in under the 50lb limit). Here’s everything that’s in my medium suitcase:
Clothes: I packed 3 sweaters, a light hoodie, 2 swimsuits, 3 dresses, 4 bottoms, 5 tops, 2 pairs of pajamas, 3 sports bras, 2 bras, 4 pairs of socks, and 7 pairs of underwear. Remember, I have access to a washing machine during my trip and my goal is to do about 1 load of laundry every week.
Shoes: I packed one pair of Tevas in my suitcase.
Gifts: I am spending part of my time with extended family, so I brought some gifts in my checked luggage. I went with a couple of Stanley cups and Yeti Ramblers, because I think everyone should be hydrated (and these are my favorite, sustainable gifts).
Toiletries: I included a full-size shampoo and conditioner, 8 oz. micellar water, 2.7 oz. toothpaste, and a full bar of soap in its own travel container. I might do an extended blog just on toiletries and makeup.
Other bags: I packed an empty Vera Bradley duffel bag. It folds up to be relatively thin, and this gives me the option to add a carry-on if I make purchases during the trip and they don’t fit in my suitcase. I packed my Patagonia Sling, which is my favorite travel bag. It holds my 20oz water bottle, keys, wallet, and my camera. The sling provides an even weight distribution on my back, making the bag a perfect travel companion.
Misc.: I packed a small prayer mat and headscarf. I packed a Turkish towel (which is thinner and wider than a regular towel) to use at the beach and double as a beach blanket. I also included a pair of goggles, feminine products, a box of Shisheido Facial Cotton, and a Lululemon Cinchable Wide Brim Bucket Hat (which makes me look like a bee keeper). I also packed one plug converter.
My carry-on items were my Everlane “Renew Transit” backpack and the Medium LLBean “canvas tote.” I’ll talk about my backpack first: it is my go-to carry on item. It has a laptop sleeve and a luggage pass-through (which is my favorite feature). The flexible material makes it easy to fill the bag with as much stuff as humanly possible, but I will say that this means the bag needs to be full to sit up straight or else it kind folds into itself. I wish the side pocket was big enough to hold a water bottle, but they updated that feature in the new version of this bag. Here’s everything that’s in my backpack:
1 packing cube: This had a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, 1 pair of pajamas, 1 set of undergarments (bra, underwear, socks). This was everything I needed for my first night in Sydney, so I wouldn’t have to open my checked bag until I got to Ballina.
My makeup bag and brushes: I would love to detail this in another blog.
My toiletries bag: This has mini sizes that I didn’t include in my checked bag, but was everything I needed for the plane and for my first night in Sydney. I would love to detail this in another blog.
Writing materials: I had 1 legal pad, 2 notebooks, 1 boxed letter writing set, 2 pens, 2 pencils, lead, ink, and an eraser.
Misc.: My toothbrush, a mini Tangle Teezer (hairbrush), contacts, full-sized medicine, wifi-hotspot, a nail file, and wet wipes. I packed the other plug converter in my carry-on to use on the plane and in Sydney.
My Land’s End canvas tote is all over TikTok right now. Yes, it is monogrammed. No, I’m not embarrassed. I want to say one thing - I actually don’t love this tote. My perfect tote is a cross between the Land’s End canvas tote and the LLBean Boat and Tote. This is such an unnecessary thing to say, but I needed to get it off my chest. I like the material/stitching and handles of the LLBean and the pockets of the Land’s End. Ultimately, I decided to bring the Land’s End because of said pockets. Here’s what’s in my tote:
My laptop: It fits perfectly in the laptop pocket and it has a button to secure the laptop into place.
My headphones: I have the Sony WH-10000XM4 head phones (noise cancelling, over the ear, and have an aux for the plane), my AirPods, and my Power Beats Pros. Three pairs of headphones seems like a lot, but I wanted to make sure I had options in case any ran out of battery. I also have a pair of loops ear plugs.
My tech organizer: I bought a bag off of amazon to hold all of my chargers, and I’m glad I upgraded from a random pouch that didn’t fit all of my chargers. I use the Muji cord organizers to keep the cables from getting mixed up.
My camera: I upgraded to my dream camera - the Fuji XT5. It has its own bag.
My water bottle: I prefer my hydroflask to plastic bottles, so I brought my 20oz bottle with me.
My eye mask and travel pillow: I need my eye mask everywhere and it’s honestly perfect for the plane. I did a lot of research and ended up purchasing the ostrich pillow. It’s compact, sturdy and comfortable (prevents my neck from bending too much). It was also very expensive, so I don’t know if you need it.
My pill box and sheet masks: I packed my pill box in my carry-on for easy access on the plane(and it includes allergy pills, aspirin, and melatonin). I used the famous Biodance Collagen sheet mask on the 15 hour flight and it was worth it. I was so embarrassed to put it on in front of people on the plane (and mortified when I had to eat with it on), but my skin looked and felt so good after I took the mask off.
My wallet: I got a special wallet with a passport holder and AirTag, so I know where it is at all times! In fact, all of my bags have AirTags, there’s something to be said about peace of mind.
On the plane, I wore compression socks, a pair of leggings, a workout shirt, and a light jacket. I was a little cold on the plane, so I’ll wear a sweater next time.
Obviously, I did not pack lightly. Despite this, I don’t think I packed enough. It is a lot colder than I expected. I had checked temperatures before I arrived, but I did not consider wind chill. I already purchased another pair of pants and plan on purchasing at least one more and another full-sleeve blouse or sweater. I also wished I had one pair of joggers and another pair of leggings. Spring is temperamental, what can I say?
If you’re traveling, I hope this is kind of helpful. I know it’s a really long blog, but I tried to be intentional about every item I brought and how I prepared for this trip. Did I miss any essentials? Let me know!
